title: A surgical technique for homogenous renal distribution of substances in rats.
abstract: Intra-arterial injection of mesenchymal stem cells has been proven to result in a superior nephroprotection compared to intravenous injection. This avoids initial passage through filter organs such as the lung, liver and spleen. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether suprarenal aortic delivery results in a homogenous distribution to both kidneys. Chinese ink was used to evaluate the renal distribution pattern for the comparison of two retrograde intra-aortic injection methods. In the first, the aorta caudal to the renal branches was temporarily clamped and Chinese ink was injected at the level of the renal arteries. In the second, a distal aortic clamp was combined with alternated clamping of the contralateral arteries. Immediately after injection, kidneys were harvested for histological analysis. Amniotic fluid stem cells labeled with LacZ were injected in the aorta by alternated clamping of the renal arteries in order to track the cells in a rat ischemia/reperfusion model. Without renal artery clamping, intra-aortic administration resulted in a delivery of the ink into the right kidney, whereas administration with alternated clamping of the contralateral renal artery, together with distal aortic artery clamping, resulted in a more homogenous distribution of the ink in both kidneys. Moreover, LacZ-positive cells were found in both kidneys after 6 h of injection. In conclusion, the retrograde administration of Chinese ink in two steps is a fast and reproducible technique, which results in a more homogenous distribution of the stain in both kidneys than a single administration combined by only clamping the aorta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animals, Experimental Veterinary Surgery Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina Gabriela
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Monteiro Carvalho Mori da Cunha
authors.forename: Diego Vilibaldo
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.forename: Marianne Sylvia
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Carlon
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.forename: Ney Luis
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Pippi
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van der Perren
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deprest
authors.forename: Jaan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toelen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D003250:Constriction; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012077:Renal Artery